Modified paint can with pouredge and insert

ABSTRACT

An apparatus disposed in a paint can for at least one of removing excess paint from a brush, pouring paint from a can without paint being trapped in a recessed portion of such can which receives a lid and for immersing bristles of a brush in such paint in such can during periods of inactivity. The apparatus comprises a container member having a predetermined shape and size, a specially configured pouring spout formed integral with the container member and an elongated rod like member secured to the container member closely adjacent an upper edge thereof. There is a lid for sealing the container member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/531,669 filed Dec. 22, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to an aid for painting and, more, particularly, the present invention relates to a paint can modification which makes pouring easier along with an insert for keeping the paint in the container when a brush is wiped to remove excess paint.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Paint cans have been used for years with hardly any modification to the can. Invariably paint cans have a rim around the circumference of the can wherein a lid is inserted to seal the can and prevent spillage. However, there is a problem that exists with the present can in that when paint is poured out of the can paint always ends up in the rim and when the lid is reapplied to the can great care must be taken to prevent paint from spattering when the lid is forced into the rim. Also when one is pouring from the can with a rim care must be taken to prevent spillage. One other problem encountered with cans having the normal rim is that when the brush is wiped on the rim to remove excess paint, paint generally gets into the rim and it becomes difficult to keep the brush clean.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an apparatus disposed in a paint can for at least one of removing excess paint from a brush, pouring paint from a can without paint being trapped in a recessed portion of such can which receives a lid and for immersing bristles of a brush in such paint in such can during periods of inactivity. The apparatus comprises a container member having a predetermined shape and size. A specially configured pouring spout is formed integral with the container member and an elongated rod like member is secured to the container member closely adjacent an upper edge thereof and there is a lid for sealing such container member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a paint can wherein a portion of the rim is removed so as to provide a pouring means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for cleaning excess paint from a brush prior to painting without getting paint in the rim.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a means in a plastic paint can for cleaning excess paint from the brush.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a modified can which is inexpensive to manufacture.

In addition to the numerous objects and advantages of the present invention which have been described with some degree of particularity above, it should be both noted and understood that a number of other important objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art of painting from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such detailed description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a metal paint can according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the can in FIG. 1 taken across the lines II-II.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is planar view of the insert according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is planar view of the insert according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plastic paint can according to an embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that for the sake of clarity in understanding the invention, identical components with identical functions have been designated with identical reference numerals throughout the drawing Figures.

Illustrated in the drawing Figures is an apparatus, generally designated 10. Such apparatus 10 includes a paint can. Such paint can 10 is modified by having a portion 2 of the rim 4 removed for easier pouring. Illustrated in FIG. 2 is a modification of the can 10 which will permit sealing with the lid 8 in that portion 2 of the can 10 where such rim 4 has been removed. As is seen in the Figure there is a slight curvature 6 in the can 10 wall which permits the lid 8 to seal against the curvature 6.

An elongated rod 12 is disposed in such paint can 10 to be used to remove paint from the brush (not shown) prior to application. The elongated rod 12 is one of plastic and metal. For use with a conventional can (normally this would be a metallic can) it is presently preferred that such elongated rod 12 be metal. It is also preferred that such elongated rod 12 be a wire very similar to the wire that is used for the handle 14 of the paint can 10. The elongated rod 12 is substantially parallel to the handle 14 of the paint can 10 when the handle 14 is in the raised position. The elongated rod 12 is attached to the paint can by any one of several means. It can be a friction 16 or snap fit 18 wherein the rod 12 has a knob on the end which fits under the rim 4 of the can 10 and is held in place by friction. The rod 12 could also be attached to a portion of the rim 4 of the can 10 by spot welding. The elongated rod 12 is attached so that the rod 12 is between about 4 inches to about 4½ inches long which, therefore, leaves the large portion of the paint can 10 free for dipping the brush into. The elongated rod 12 is used to remove excess paint from the brush before painting. Since all excess paint merely drains back into the can there is no mess with paint getting in the rim 4. The thin wire also makes it easier to determine the amount of paint the painter wishes to have on the brush by the amount of pressure exerted on the rod 12. More brush pressure means that less paint is left on the brush whereas less pressure means more paint on the brush.

As is evident in FIG. 1 the can rim 4 for a metal paint can 10 is altered in an embodiment of the invention. A portion of the rim 2 is removed so that an easy pouring region of the can is formed. The painter does not have to pour paint over the rim as is presently done but pours from the area where the rim 4 is removed. This makes pouring much easier with less paint spillage and also having less paint spilled on the outside of the can 10 and in the rim 4 of the can 10.

To insure a seal with the lid 8 of the can 10 in a present embodiment since a portion 2 of the rim 4 is removed the present invention provides for a slight curvature 6 of the side wall of the can 10 as is seen in FIG. 2. The lid 8 fits against this curvature 6 and provides a seal for the lid 8.

Illustrated in FIG. 6 is a plastic paint can 10 according to an embodiment of the invention in which an elongated rod 12 is disposed in the container opposite the pouring spout.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus disposed in a paint can for at least one of removing excess paint from a brush, pouring paint from such paint can without paint being trapped in a recessed portion of such paint can which receives a lid and for immersing bristles of a brush in such paint in such paint can during periods of inactivity; said apparatus comprising: (a) a container member having a predetermined size and shape; (b) a specially configured pouring spout formed integral with said container member; (c) an elongated rod like member secured to said container member closely adjacent an upper edge thereof; and (d) a lid for sealing said container member.
 2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said elongated rod member is secured to said container member adjacent a rim portion thereof.
 3. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said elongated rod member is secured to said rim portion of said container member by one of molding, friction fit and adhesive bonding.
 4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said elongated rod member is secured to said rim portion of said container member by means of a friction fit.
 5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said elongated rod member is one of plastic and metallic.
 6. The apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said elongated rod member is metallic.
 7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said container member is one of plastic and metallic.
 8. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said container member is metallic.
 9. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said container member further includes a handle.
 10. The apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein a wall of said container member closely adjacent said specially configured pouring spout includes a curvature to provide a seal with said lid of said container member.
 11. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said container member is plastic.
 12. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said plastic is blow molded.
 13. The apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said plastic container has a handle formed in said container.
 14. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined shape of said container is one of generally round and generally square.
 15. The apparatus, according to claim 14, wherein said metallic container is generally round.
 16. The apparatus, according to claim 14, wherein said plastic container is generally square.
 17. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined size of said container is generally about one gallon. 